Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 69

he loved all beautiful things, including people.

She followed him with adoring eyes, but in an instant, she lost him and ended up in the rear pool area.

She was scared and tried to run back, but she tripped and fell into the pool.

Small as she was, she thrashed in the water, screaming, but no one heard.

Slowly, her strength gave out. She swallowed mouthful after mouthful of water and began to sink.

Then, she saw a light, a person, and a large hand grabbed her, pulling her through the surface.

She didn’t remember it clearly. She was too little, and she had almost drowned. Her consciousness was a blur. She only remembered someone saving her, giving her artificial respiration, and calling for help.

By the time she was fully awake, she was being held tightly in her adoptive mother’s arms.

In a daze, she saw a back walking away through the crowd. She learned his name was Jasper.

He had saved her, and he had kissed her.

At six years old, she foolishly believed that if you kissed, you had to get married, just like her mom and dad. They would be together forever. She would be his bride.

Later, after she recovered, she begged her mother to find Jasper, and she got her wish, arriving at the Jackson family estate.

But he didn’t remember her. He had forgotten he saved her, forgotten he kissed her.

It didn’t matter. She would just stick to him. She would try her hardest to be his bride, to repay him.

That effort lasted twelve years.

For twelve whole years, she was like a dog at his heels, her entire world revolving around him. Everyone laughed at her for overreaching.

Why?

Why did it turn out like this?

Jasper, you were the one who saved me. You were the one who brought me back. You knew me first…

I regret it.

Her last breath turned into bubbles. Her consciousness faded away. But at the final moment, a hand grabbed her and yanked her upward.

Jasper found her, switched his grip to her waist, and kicked for the surface.

Finally, they broke through.

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The bodyguards scrambled to help pull her out.

Jasper waved their hands away and personally lifted Tatiana onto the pier.

Seeing her pale, motionless face, his chest ached. Without a second thought, he began chest compressions, performing CPR.

She suddenly vomited a large amount of seawater, collapsing in a heap, her breathing ragged.

Jasper knelt, grabbed her chin, and snarled, “Was that on purpose? Don’t you know how to swim? Were you trying to kill yourself?”

She just stared at him, the handsome face in front of her slowly overlapping with the image from her childhood.

She spoke, her voice hoarse. “Jasper… do you know why I learned to swim?”

The random question doused his anger.

“What are you trying to say?”

She looked down, disappointed. Right. How could he remember?

“Why did you save me?”

He didn’t have a reason.

In that split second, instinct had overcome reason.

But he wouldn’t admit it. He refused to acknowledge that loss of control.

“Tatiana, did you forget Grandpa’s orders?”

So, it was for Grandpa.

Of course.

Why else would he care about me?

Seeing her silence, and thinking of her earlier attempt to die and his own loss of control, he felt a simmering anger. He snapped, “If you want to die, go die somewhere else. Don’t do it in front of me. You’re dirtying my sight.”

He would never know how many times, in the years to come, he would regret those words.

At the hospital.

The doctor examined her thoroughly. “Don’t be so reckless next time. If your luck hadn’t held, it would

have been two lives lost.”

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Tatiana nodded, saying nothing.

The doctor turned to Jasper. “As the husband, you need to pay more attention to your wife’s condition and be more careful. Don’t neglect your responsibilities.”

Since they had gone to the nearest hospital, not a familiar one, the doctor assumed they were a normal couple and spoke in a scolding tone.

Jasper didn’t react, just gave a flat grunt of acknowledgment.

After the check–up, Tatiana followed him, wrapped in a blanket. She heard a nurse mutter, “To go through all that and still be fine… the baby’s father must have strong genes.”

Jasper heard it too. His expression darkened.

On the way back, neither of them spoke.

The car was filled with a heavy, low pressure.

Tatiana turned her head, glancing at the man beside her. The colorful neon lights of the city flew past, casting fleeting patterns on his chiseled features. He looked mysterious and noble, and just as cruel.

She looked away.

Soon, they were back at the manor.

They walked in, one after the other. Suddenly, Jasper stopped. He saw someone standing at the manor’s entrance. He immediately reached out and grabbed Tatiana’s hand.

Startled, she tried to pull it back, but his grip was like iron. “Don’t move. The butler is right there.”

Hearing this, she looked up. Sure enough, the old butler was standing by the door, waiting for them with a broad smile.

“What are you doing here?”

The old butler saw the two of them walking in hand–in–hand, and the wrinkles around his eyes deepened. “You’re back. Your grandfather had me bring over some supplements. He wanted to remind you both to take care of yourselves and to dress warmly now that it’s getting cold.”

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